HOUSTON, Miss. – (WCBI) The city of Houston utilities are a step closer to going high tech.

A public hearing Tuesday was part of the process for applying for a $250,000 federal grant to buy electronic water meters. City leaders hope to join Winona, West Point, Verona, Hamilton as among those who have started using the new meters to save money, reduce water loss and get more accurate readings. Replacing the city’s 1,800 old meters and repairing one of the city’s water wells will cost about $500,000. But instead of needing two weeks to read all the meters and then hand input the information, one reader can do the same work in about two days.